When Aldred and the others hopped off Xer Xai, all the guards were looking at the boy in awe as the gigantic creature acted like a dog in front of the boy.
"Who is that?"
"Is he Lord Maverick's friend?"
"I never seen anything like that before much more to even see someone ride on it."
And then one of the guard realized. "Wait a minute. Isn't that a Xer Xai?"
"Xer Xai? Those large worms in Aringuerao? Impossible?"
The guard pulled out a book that showed a picture similar to the beast. They all stared at the picture and then at the beast with widened eyes.
"How is this possible?"
When Lord Maverick and his friends walked to the gate, the guards could not help but ask.
"Lord Maverick. We apologize to interrupt you, but are you the one who tamed this creature?"
Maverick shook his head. "No. This thing is owned by my friend." He pointed at Aldred.
"So it was true. The boy is the one who tamed it."
Suddenly, someone shouted from the distance.
"Where is that beast?!" The commander came and shouted.
"Sir, the thing is right in front of you, and is as large as a mountain. How can you miss it?"
"Shut up or I am cutting your salary!"
They all laughed as they knew the commander was joking. His relationship with the guards were close and playful, but they do know their boundaries and know when to be serious.
He stared at the beast and then at Maverick. "My lord. Is this thing really a Xer Xai?"
"Yes, commander. My friend here fought one on Mount Fargon and turned it into his undead."
The soldiers were even more shocked to hear that. Turning it into his undead. Didn't that mean the boy defeated a Xer Xai?
The commander frowned. "This Xer Xai is a Gold Rank. But that doesn't mean it's weak. In fact, this thing seems to have a greater power but was shackled by some sort of spells. In any case, even a thousand Gold Rank won't be enough to defeat it. Unless they are the elite Gold Rank."
The soldiers were speechless. Their commander was a Diamond Rank. For him to say that the beast can defeat one thousand Gold Ranks was a great proof of its might.
And it was also proof that the boy was so much more than he seemed.
Aldred picked his nose as he listened to all this. Pongo looked at him and followed.
Looking at the boy and the penguin, it was hard to know that they defeated a Xer Xai and even turn it into an undead.
The commander stared at the boy. He must be the son of a powerful duke, wait no. At least, he had to be the son of an emperor.
"Commander," Maverick called. "Aldred and everyone here is my friend. I hope you can treat them properly."
The commander nodded. After seeing his pet, how could he not treat the boy properly?
He glanced at the boy. So Lord Maverick made a powerful necromancer as a friend. And at first glance, The Lord seemed to have the ambition to take back that wasted province. If he succeeded, he would be the successor for sure.
'Should I take sides? No. I have been neutral for decades, taking sides now is too late. Besides, I hate politics.'
The commander cleared his throat. "Let me congratulate you on your return, Lord Maverick. I assume you succeeded in obtaining the astrolabe?"
Maverick smiled and nodded.
"Not only did you obtain the astrolabe, you also obtain great and wonderful friends along the way. But your journey has only begun, why do you come to visit?"
"I want to introduce my friends to my father."
"Ahh, so that's' why." The commander glanced at the lord. Lord Maverick wasn't a fool. He wanted to show off his allies and their power to his father, thereby receiving his supports and possibly getting rewarded in advance. This way, his dreaded competitor—his own little brother—will have a hard time in amassing more allies.
'It seems the balance of power will tilt to Lord Maverick this time after years.'
"If it is okay. I will escort you to the lord's mansion."
Maverick accepted the offer and called for Aldred. "This is my city. Anything you see, I can give it to you."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, sure."
"What about that building?" Aldred pointed.
They all looked at the large sign on the wall of the grand building: Ten Thousand Goddess Brothel.
Mareona hit his head. "Don't joke around."
"Hey… I just like how the building looks. That's all."
Maverick laughed and they walked to the clean and tidy street. The traffic here were organized by traffic police, and there was no jam at all. There were roads for pedestrians and for carriages. It was a well-organized and beautiful city.
"Your father must be an awesome man."
"Oh, he is known to be competent. That's why the emperor trusts him. By the way, Aldred. I heard you have good eyes and are also good with your hands. I wonder if you can do me a favor."
Aldred was happy to help. "Tell me."
"I have a sister. And she has a terrible back pain that always return even after she got cured or massaged. And In fact, her pain seems to get worse after each treatment. Even the Diamond Ranks magician did not know what to do."
"Hmmm. I will do what I can do."
Sometime later, they arrived in front of a massive mansion. Looking from outside, the mansion was boxed by golden fences with beautiful gardens surrounding the building.
"Welcome to my house. Let's get inside."
A pair of royal guards pushed the gate and let them in.
Two beautiful maids greeted them.
"Welcome back, Lord Maverick."
"Miss, please prepare my friends here some fine meals and beverages. We are tired and would like some wonderful food to fill our hunger."
The maids bowed. "Certainly, my lord."
The maids left for the kitchen, and Maverick saw a man stepping down the large set of stairs. He was a tall man wearing an elegant set of clothes.
"Father."
His father looked at him nonchalantly. To be honest, he wanted to hug his son and give him a pat on the back for his return from Mount Fargon, but alas he must be strict or they would never grow to be strong. Such was the heavy responsibility of a father.
"You brought a friend, I see. My name is Aleron the Count of Chanterre." He glanced at them one by one, and then his gaze set upon the boy. His eyes peered through the surface and detected his blood to be the rare type.
What kind of blood was that? Aleron felt some sort of weird power from it. But he knew for sure the blood was much stronger and better than him.
Maverick looked at his father, and then smiled. "Let me show you something."
